Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



G. W. HARLAN.

MAIL BAG G'ATGHEB. AND DBLIYERER.

APPLIGATION FILED 511N223, 1909.

Patented. July 5, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

anwnkov I am gnwr/m Witnuow atteznmp G. W. HARLAN.

MAIL BAG GATOHER AND DELIVBRER.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 23, 1909.

Patented July 5, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wihtmoe:

ORRIS PETERS co. WASHINGTON o r.

G. W. HARLAN.

MAIL BAG GATGHEB AND DELIVERBB.

' APPLIOATI ON FILED JUNE 23, 1909. 963,145. Patented July 5, 1910.

4 BKBETS -SHEET 3.

wihwoom G. W. HARLAN.

MAIL BAG GATOHER AND DELIVERER.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 23, 1909.

Patented July 5,1910.

4 BHBETS-SHEET 4- I IEZlU Wihmoow 7N5 MORRIS PETER co r ion GEORGE W. HABLAN, 0F bTTERVILLE, MISSOURI,

MAIL-BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J 1113 5, 1910.

Application filed June 23, 1909. Serial No. 503,932.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE TV. HARLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Otterville, in the county of Cooper, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers and Deliverers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mail bag catchers and deliverers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved general construction of devices of this character. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for holding a swinging crane releasably in operative position.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved means on the crane to absorb the shock incident to catching the mail bag.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide an element .to prevent the release of the crane when the last mentioned means is in operative position.

A fifth object of the invention is to provide an improved station supported means for catching a ring attached to a mail bag.

A sixth object of the invention is to provide an improved yieldable ring holding device for mail bag catchers.

A seventh object of the invention is to ]provide an improved train supported mail ag catching device.

l Vith the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general ofa crane of improved construction located adjacent a railroad track in combination with improved train supported means, each of the devices having improved delivery and catching mechanisms.

The invention further consists in certain pair of mail bags. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the crane certain of the parts being broken away the better to show the construction. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the devices as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of these devices, the view being partly in section. Fig. 5 is section on the line 5-5 of Fig. at. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view partly in section through one of the ring supporting devices. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the locking arms 011 the crane supported ring catcher. Fig. 8 is a view of a portion of the latch mechanism for the main crane. Fig. 9 is a view of One of the stop members on the secondar crane. F ig. 10 is a plan view partly in section of the end of the train supported ring catching arm. Fig. 11 is a sectional View on the line 11l1 of Fig. 10, showing the trigger depressed. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 with the finger raised. F ig. 13 is a perspective view of the point of the train supported ring catcher showing the finger in its elevated position. Fig. 14 is a detail perspective view of a certain latch lever used in connection with this invention.

Considering first the station mechanism, there is provided a stationary crane post 20 which is firmly fixed to a suitable foundation. The lower end of this post is provided With a broadened base at the top of which is formed a reduced upper portion 21 and at the point of juncture of the portion 21 with the base is a ball race 22 wherein are held balls 23. The extreme upper end of the portion 21 is further reduced as indicated at 24: to form a roller race. The crane arm comprises an inverted hollow J-shaped member having a straight body portion 25 which fits over the portion 21 of the crane post. The upper end of this straight body portion extends past the reduced extremity 24: of the crane post and between these parts are rollers 26 arranged to form a roller bearing. The lower end of the body 25 is provided with a suitable ball race 27 which rests on top of the balls 28 so that the downward thrust of the crane arm is taken by these balls while the lateral stresses in this arm are borne by the rollers 26.

Securely mounted on the base of the post 20 is an arcuate bar 28 having a central depression 29 and upturned ends 30, these ends being rebent and terminating adjacent the bar 28. This bar is preferably made of resilient material so that these rebent ends 30 act as springs. Extending downward from the body 25 of the swinging portion of the crane is a guide 31 wherethrough passes a rod 32 provided at its lower end with a fork 33 wherein is rotatably mounted a roller 34 which rests upon the bar 28 and this roller is of such size as to drop into the depression 29, thus preventing rotation of the crane arm when in this position. This bar 32 is further provided with a collar 35 and between the collar 35 and the guide 31 is a spring 36 which constantly tends to raise the roller 34 out of the depression 29.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 8 that as this roller travels around the bar 28 the upturned ends 30 act as spring stops therefor and absorb any shock due to violent swinging of the roller around the crane post.

The upper end of the crane arm is recurved as indicated at 37 and on the lower end of the recurved portion is carried an end bearing 38 provided with a socket 39 for purposes hereinafter to be described. The swinging arm of the crane is perforated as at 40 and 41 and attached to this arm is a tubular guide 42 which extends from just above the end bearing 38. Slidable in this guide 42 is a plunger 43 having a downwardly extending arm 44 adapted to bear against a latch, the character of which will be hereinafter described. Secured to a bracket 45 is a bell crank lever 46 to one arm of which is attached one end of the plunger 43 while to the other arm is secured the upper end of the bar 32. These parts are so arranged that when the arm 44 is retained by the latch the roller 34 will be prevented from being displaced from the depression 29.

In order to provide means for swinging the crane arm when the locking mechanism is released there is secured to the base of the crane post 20 a bracket 47 whereon is mounted a pulley 48. Projecting from the body portion 25 of the swinging member is an arm 49 and to the outer end of this arm is connected a flexible member 50 which runs over the pulley 48 and carries at its lower end a weight 51. It is to be noted that when the device is in oaerative position the arm 49 and bracket 4 lie in planes at right angles to each other.

Fixedly mounted on the body 25 is an arm 52 which is braced to the lower portion of the body by a suitable brace 53 and on the outer end of this arm is supported a socket 54 wherein is held a ball 55. The axis of the socket 54 and the bearing 38 are in alinement, and held in the bearings thus formed is a secondary crane post 56 having frustoconical ends 57, the upper end being held in the socket while the lower end rests on the ball 55. Fixedly secured to this secondary crane post is a secondary crane arm 58 which is suitably braced to lie in a horizontal position by a brace 59. Secured on the upper face of the secondary crane arm 58 are guides 60-61. Through the guide 60 passes the stem 62 of a latch lever, and this stem has an upturned end 63 which, when the device is in operative position, bears against the downwardly extending arm 44. Upon this stem 62 is mounted a collar 64 and between this collar 64 and the guide 60 is a strong spring 65. The stem 62 is provided at its outer end with an enlar ed fiattened portion 66 having oppositely disposed recesses 67 near the extremity thereof.

Extending across the secondary crane arm 58 is a bar 68 which is fixedly attached to the crane arm. This bar 68 has at each end a hook shaped terminal 69, the hook being arranged to face outward. Pivoted to the arm 58 are a pair of oppositely disposed latch members 70 each provided with a centrally disposed slot 71 extending therethrough and each of these latch members has projecting therefrom a finger 72 which is adapted to engage in one of the recesses 67. Pivoted to the bar 68 are fingers 73 there being one of these fingers adjacent each of the hook port-ions of the bar and these fingers are further provided with notched ex treniities 74 which are adapted to engage against pins 75 each of which extends across one of the slots 71.

From an inspection of Fig. 4 it will be noted that when the parts are in the position indicated on the upper side of that figure the latch member 70 is held so that its tooth 72 engages the recess 67 so that the spring 65 is prevented from forcing the parts 44 and 63 out of engagement. If, however, the fingers 73 be struck to move the free end of the same inward toward the arm 58 the tension of the spring 55 will force the stem 62 with its enlarged head 66 outward and will disengage the parts 44 and 63. This in turn acts to permit the disengagement of the roller 34 from the depression 29 so that the crane may be swung as a whole around the crane post. It will further be noted that as this takes place the latch 71 will be caused to assume the position corresponding to that shown below the arm 58 in Fig. 4, the finger 73 passing through the slot to permit this action. At the same time that the release just described is obtained the secondary crane is likewise released. In order to prevent the secondary crane from moving when in operative position until properly released there is provided an arm 76 which is fixedly attached to the socket 38, and this arm 76 is provided on its out-er end with a recessed head 77. Upon the collar 64 is an upwardly extending projection provided with a V-shaped face as indicated at 78, and this V-shaped face is, when the arms are in operative position, held in the recess of the head 77 so that the secondary crane arm is held in alinement with the primary crane arm.

It will be clear from the foregoing that both the primary and secondary cranes will be simultaneously released as the parts 7 7 and 78 will disengage through the movement of the stem 62 at the same time that the parts 14 and 63 are disengaged. In order to assist in the swinging of the secondary crane arm so that this arm is speedily moved out of the way there is provided a spring 79 which is secured to the arm 76, and this spring extends out over the bar 68. Upon the bar 68 are mounted a pair of spaced stop members each of which consists of a U-shaped member 80 lying on its side on the bar and securely attached thereto with the base of the Us lying toward each other. Secured to the lower side of each of these Us by means of a pivot joint 81 is a leaf 82 and the arrangement of these parts is such that the upper side of each U acts as a stop for its respective leaf 82 so that the same is held from moving beyond a vertical position. The spring 79 is so arranged that it bears against one or the other of these leaves 82 according as to which is lifted to the position indicated in Fig. 9. Owing to this construction when the secondary arm 58 is released the spring acts to'throw the outer end of the arm around in a circle as indicated by the dash and dotted line in Fig. 3.

Upon the extreme outer end of the arm 58 is mounted a ring holding device. This ring holding device comprises a lower member 83 arcuate in shape and provided with a groove extending longitudinally of its inner face as indicated at 84. Across one extremity of this groove lies a stop pin 85 and extending from the member 83 at the opposite end thereof are a pair of spaced perforated ears 86 which embrace the upper and lower sides of the member 58, being pivoted thereto by means of a suitable bolt 87. Pivoted to the member 83 is a second member 88 similar in form and similarly provided with a groove 89 and stop pin 90. This member 88 is provided with a project ing arm 91 having a'spring seat 92 formed thereon, and between this arm and the upper ear 86 is held a spring 93 which normally forces the free ends of the members 83 and 88 toward each other, this motion being limited by reason of the fact that these members have their pivot points behind the faces thereof as can readily be seen at 94. In order to hold this device projected in alinement with the two crane arms when in operative position there is provided on the member 58 a perforated ear 95 and the ear 86 is provided with a perforated extension 96. A tension spring 97 has one end secured in the ear 95 and the other in the extension 96. By this construction while the members 83 and 88 are permitted to rotate about the pivot 87 yet they will return to position in alinement with the member 58 as soon as released from whatever force may be employed to cause their rotation.

In order to hold a mail bag in position for being caught there is provided a ring 98 having oppositely disposed depressions 99 and extending from one of these depressions is a projecting arm provided with a loop 100. Passing through this loop 100 is a strap 101 which is secured around the mid dle of the mail bag. From an inspection of Fig. 6 it will be seen that when this ring 98 is in position the stop pins 85 and 90 e11- gage respectively in the upper and lower depressions 99 of the ring, thus holding the ring from accidental displacement. If, however, the ring be firmly grasped and pulled sidewise the members 88 and 88 will rotate to a certain extent on the pivot 87 until the pull becomes one that tends to draw the ring out edgewise. Vhen this takes place the depressions 99 are forced out of engagement with the stop pins 85 and 90, springing the members 83 and 88 open against the action of the spring 93 and thus permitting the removing of the ring with the mail bag attached thereto.

Supported in the doorway of the car a portion of which is indicated at 103 is a post 101 which has a projecting arm 105 extending upward parallel to the post and on this arm is supported a revolving crane post 106 having a socket at the lower end which fits over the upper end'of the arm 105, the upper end of this crane post being supported in a suitable bearing 107 carried on the post 104. This crane post is provided with an arm 108 which curves upwardly and outwardly away from the post 106. ()n the outer end of this arm is mounted a ring holding device 109 which is identical in all respects with the ring holding device before described and in consequence a detail description will not again be entered into. Upon the free end of this arm adjacent the ring holding device is a forwardly extending member 110 having a reduced portion 111 at its forward end, and this reduced portion is hollow throughout its length as can best be seen in Fig. 11 where the recess therein is indicated at 112. This extension 111 is provided throughout its length with a slot 113. Mounted on the extension 111 is a slidable sleeve 114 where from projects a forwardly extending horn 11.5. This sleeve is also provided with an inwardly extending arm 116 which passes through the slot 118 and acts as a guide to prevent the rotation of the sleeve on the extension 111. This arm is furthermore provided with a perforated end 117 for purposes hereinafter to be described. Held upon the forward end of the reduced portion 111 is a cap or point having a cylindrical body 118 which fits over the portion 111 and a terminal conical extremity 119. This cap furthermore has an inwardly extending lug 120 which is held in the slot 113 so that the rotation of the cap is prevented. This cap is provided with a slot 121 extending throughout the cylindrical portion, and piv otally mounted so as to lie in this slot when in closed position is a trigger 122, the trigger being pivoted intermediate its ends and having a pointed extremity at one end adapted to lie in a recess 123 in the sleeve 114E when the trigger is in closed position. The opposite extremity of this trigger is provided with a perforated end 12 1 and connecting the end 12& and the end 117 of the arm 116 is a tension spring 125.

hen this device is used for catching a ring from the station crane the point 119 passes into the ring and the side of the ring strikes the forward side of the hook 115. This forces the sleeve 114: rearward and frees the end of the trigger from the recess 123. The tension of the spring then causes the trigger arm 122 to rise to the position indicated in Fig. 12. The tension of the spring 125 again draws the sleeve 111i forward as by this time the inertia of rest of the ring and bag attached thereto has been overcome. It will be noted that by means of this arrangement it is impossible for the bag to become detached from the point after having been once caught.

In order to provide for signaling means there is carried upon the crane arm 37 a bracket 12G adapted to hold a lamp 127 or other similar signaling device.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this invention without departing from the material principles thereof. It is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the kind described, aring holder including a pair of pivotally united arcuate arms each having a grooved inner surface, stops formed at the free ends of said arms in said grooves, and a spring normally forcing the free ends of said arms toward each other.

2. In a device of the kind described, a relatively stationary member and a ring holder pivoted thereto including a pair of pivotally united arcuate arms each having a grooved inner surface, stops formed at the free ends of said arms in said grooves, and a spring normally forcing the free ends of said arms toward each other.

3. In a device of the kind described, a relatively stationary member, a ring holder pivoted thereto including a pair of pivotally united arcuate arms each having a grooved inner surface, stops formed at the free ends of said arms in said grooves, and a spring normally forcing the free ends of said arms toward each other; in combination with a spring arranged to yieldably hold the ring holder at a predetermined angle to the relatively stationary member.

et. In a device of the kind described, a relatively stationary member, a ring holder pivoted thereto including apair of pivotally united arcuate arms each having a grooved inner surface, stops formed at the free ends of said arms in said grooves, and a spring normally forcing the free ends of said arms toward each other; in combination with a spring arranged to yieldably hold the ring in alinement with the relatively stationary member.

5. In a device of the kind described, a primary crane arranged to swing about a fixed axis, a secondary crane pivotally carried by the primary crane, and means releasably to hold said cranes in operative position, said means being arranged to simultaneously release the primary crane from operative position and the secondary crane from its position relative to the primary crane.

(5. In a device of the kind described, a primary crane rotatable about a fixed axis, a secondary crane supported on the arm of the primary crane, and mechanism to releasably hold said crane in operative position, said mechanism being operable for release by the impact of a moving object, and said mechanism being arranged to simultaneously release both of the cranes.

7. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a secondary crane rotatably mounted on the arm to swing in a horizontal plane, and mail bag supporting means on said secondary crane.

8. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a secondary crane supported on said arm and provided with an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a spring normally tending to rotate the secondary crane, and means releasably to hold said crane from rotation.

9. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a secondary crane supported on said arm and provided with an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a spring normally tending to rotate the secondary crane, means releasably to hold said crane from rotation, and a mail bag catcher on said arm having a pivotally mounted element forming a latch for said holding means, said element being releasable when a mail bag is caught in the catcher.

V 10. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, means to releasably hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably carried on said arm, and an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means.

11. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, means to releasably hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably carried on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, and a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means.

12. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, means to releasably hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably carried on said arm, an ele ment on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means, and a finger releasably to hold said latch, said finger being operable by contact with a moving object.

13. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in ,a horizontal plane, means releasably to hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably mounted on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, and coacting locking means on said arm and said element releasably to hold the secondary crane from rotation relative to the first mentioned crane.

14. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, means releasably to hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably moimted on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, coacting locking means on said arm and said element releasably to hold the secondary crane from rotation relative to the first mentioned crane, and a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means.

15. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, means releasably to hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably mounted on said arm, an ele ment on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, coacting locking means on said arm and said element releasably to hold the secondary crane from rotation relative to the first mentioned crane, a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means, and a finger releasably to hold said latch, said finger being operable by contact with a moving object.

16. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a weight normally tending to swing said arm to inoperative position, means to releasably hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably carried on said arm, and an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means.

17. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a weight normally tending to swing said arm to inoperative position, means to releasably hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably carried on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, and a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means.

18. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a Weight normally tending to swing said arm to inoperative position, means to releasably hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably carried on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means, and a finger releasably to holdsaid latch, said finger being operable by contact with a moving object.

19. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a weight normally tending to swing said arm to inoperative position, means releasably to hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably mounted on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, and coacting locking means on said arm and said element releasably to hold the secondary crane from rotation relative to the first mentioned crane.

20. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a weight normally tending to swing said arm to inoperative position, means releasably to hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably mounted on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, coacting locking means on said arm and said element releasably to hold the secondary crane from rotation relative to the first mentioned crane, and a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means.

21. In a device of the kind described, a crane having an arm arranged to swing in a horizontal plane, a weight normally tending to swing said arm to inoperative position, means releasably to hold said arm in operative position, a secondary crane rotatably mounted on said arm, an element on the secondary crane releasably to hold said means, coacting locking means on said arm and said element releasably to hold the secondary crane from rotation relative to the first mentioned crane, a latch releasably to hold said element from movement to release said means, and a finger releasably to hold said latch, said finger being operable by contact with a moving object.

22. In a device of the kind described, a ring catcher including a relatively stationary hollow member, a trigger adjacent the forward end thereof, means releasably to hold said trigger in depressed position, and other means to project said trigger laterally from said member when released.

23. In a device of the kind described, a ring catcher including a relatively stationary hollow member, a trigger adjacent the forward end thereof, means releasably to hold said trigger in depressed position, said means comprising a hollow sleeve extending over the end of said trigger, and a laterally projecting horn 011 said sleeve, and other means to projectsaid trigger laterally from said member when released.

24. In a device of the kind described, a ring catcher including a relatively stationary hollow member provided with a longitudinal slot, a trigger pivotally mounted adjacent the forward end thereof and provided with an arm extending within the hollow member, a sleeve slidable on the hollow member and adapted to engage the end of the trigger when the latter is depressed, an arm on said sleeve projecting through saidslot, a horn projecting laterally from said sleeve, and a spring connecting the ends of the arm on the sleeve and the arm on the trigger.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. HARLAN.

\Vitnesses L. M. COUDRY, L. S. DE HAVEN. 

